Truss rod



J. D. LANGDON April 24, 1928.

TRUSS ROD Filed Aug.l7, 1925 of parts.

latented Apr. 24, 1928.

UNITED STATES PA T f OFFIc 1 1,667,209 it p JESSE n. LANGDON, or Los ANGELES, JCALIFORNIAIQASSIGNOR o PETROLEUM MA CHINERY DEVELOPMENT,CORPORATION, or RENO, NEVADA.

TRUSS Ron.

Continuation of application Serial No.

and bracing wheel fenders-ofautomobiles,

but capable of use for other purposes also, this application beingbased on application Serial No. 672,619, filedNovembenB, 1923.

Another object of the invention is the provision of atruss rod of novel construction and having novel means for engaging the fenders or objects, in order that the rod will be effectively secured in engagement with the tenders or objects, with a simple and inespensive constructionand a minimum number lVith the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction and arrangement of parts, as

hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a fragmentary front view of an automobile showing the truss rod applied to the front wheel fenders, portions being shown in section.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of one terminal portionof the truss rod.

The rod may be of any suitable length, accordingto the use to which it is put, and is composed of iron, steel, or other suitable resilient metal. The rod comprises the two duplicate sections 7, and a turnbuckle 8 screw-threaded on the adjacent terminals of the sections '7 for drawing said sections toward one another. Lock nuts 9 are also screw-threaded on said sections to abut the ends of the turnbuckle 8 and maintain the adjustment.

The sections 7 are provided at their opposite terminals with curved portions 10, which are convexed longitudinally of the rodso as to be raised or offset upwardly above the horizontal axis of the rod. The

portions 10 are fiattened'transversely, as at 11, and the outer extremities of the sections 7 are bent downwardly and backwardly to 672,619, filed November 3, 1923. .1925. Serial No. 59,691.

This application filed August 17,

versely flattened portions extend from the i hooks 12 to points short of but close to the inner edges of. the fendersl hand said portions may bear flatly (that is transversely of the portions 11) on the fenders.

tions 1-1 are formed with raised longitudinal ribs 15 extending from the inner ends of the portions11to points short of the hooks 12.

The ribs 15. have an ornamental effect and j also prevent the too free bending or spring- The poring of the transversely flattened portionsll.

Small platesor pieces 16 areslidable on the sections 7 of the rod and have apertures 17 loosely receiving the rod. Said-plates or pieces have their lower ends bent to form hooks 18 forengaging underthebeads 19 extending along the inner edges'of the fendeI'Sl4:. 3

In applying thedevice to the fenders 14 the hook members-or plates 16 are first slid onto the sections 7, and the (nuts 19 are then screw-threaded on the inner terminals of said sections. The inner ends of the sections 7 are then screwed slightly (about one turn) in the ends of the turnbuckleS. One

hook 12is then engaged across and under the corresponding bead 13, and the rod is positioned slightly in front of the radiator.

The opposite terminal of the rod is then placed on the corresponding fender and the other hook is then snapped under the head 13 of the last named fender, the fender-being sprung inwardly if necessary lasthook 12 under the bead. Each section 7 is then sprung downwardly at the inner side of the corresponding fender, and the hook member or plate 16 slid outwardly so that the hook 18 can engage under the correspond ing bead 19. Thus. by springing the sections 7 downwardly the hooks can be engaged under the beads 19, and when the sections 7 are released they spring upwardly thereby drawing the members 16 upwardly into'tight' engagement with the beads 19. The turn buckle 8 is then turned for drawing the sec tions 7 toward one another, thereby truss ingand bracing the fenders 14, and the rod will also serve. as a tie ro'dbetween the fenders. In contractingthe rod lengthwise,

the intermediate portion of the rod, which is below the horizontal 'line 20connecting the crowns of the portions 10,has' a tendency to engage the to be raised upwardly toward the line 20,

16 are drawnupwardlyand held tightly in due to a tendency for the rod to straighten out under tension between the crowns of the portions 10. As a resulhthe hook members engagement with the beads 19. Consequently, the members 16, which are of extremely simple construction, are held in effective engagement with the tenders, although the members or plates 16 are loose on the rod and do not have any securing elements for holding them in place on the rod.

The construction is extremely simple, being economical to manufacture, and the devieebeing also readily installed.

The device may be used for other purposes also for which it is suitable, so that the tenders 14 may be taken to represent other objects to which the hooks l2 and 18 may be applied.

The present application is a continuation of nrvapplication tor {intent iiled Nov. 3, 1923, Serial No. 672,619. I V

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. A truss rod having curved portions to extend across objects and terminal hooks to engage vthe outer edges of said objects, said rod having means between said portions for contracting the rod lengthwise so as to tension therrocl and hook members sliclable on the rod to engage the inner edges of said objects and so arranged that the straightening out efiect of the rod, when tensioned, between said-e curved portions will draw said members tightly into engage iiient with said inner edges of the objects.

2. A truss rod having, at its opposite terininals curved portions offset above the longitudinal axis of the rod so as to extend across wheel tenders of an automobile, said rod having hooksnt its opposite terminals to engage under the beads at the outer edges of said fenders, the intermediate portion ot the rod being disposed below a line conneet ing the crowns of said curved portions and having ineans for contracting the rod lengthwise to apply tension to therod to obtain a straightening out effect of the rod toward said line, and llOOlflnBHlbBlS slidabl'e on the rod at said curved portions to engage under the heads at the inner edges of the tenders and drawn iu'qwardly tiglitly into engage ment with the lastnaniedbead by said straightening out effect when the rod is tensioned.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aifix my signature.

Jessi: n. LANGDON. 

